Saturday, November 4, 2023
by Thomas Lal

PORTLAND, Ore. – Seattle Pacific has never missed a GNAC Women’s Soccer Championships in the 10-year history of the event and will enter this year’s edition of the tournament in Ellensburg, Wash., as the No. 1 seed after clinching its 10th regular-season title.

Western Washington, which has also never missed a GNAC Championship since the tournament’s inception in 2012, claimed the No. 2 seed. Western Oregon earned its fourth GNAC Championships berth as the No. 3 seed, and Simon Fraser picked up its fifth all-time tournament berth including its third in-a-row as the No. 4 seed.

2023 GNAC Women’s Soccer Championships Schedule

Tomlinson Stadium | Ellensburg, Wash. | Hosted by Central Washington University

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023

4 p.m. – Semifinal 1: No. 3 seed Western Oregon vs. No. 2 seed Western Washington

7 p.m. – Semifinal 2: No. 4 seed Simon Fraser vs. No. 1 seed Seattle Pacific

Saturday, Nov. 11

1 p.m. – Championship match

The Falcons wrapped up the regular season undefeated in conference play with a 9-0-5 record (12-2-5 overall). Their year has been highlighted by their current 15-match unbeaten streak which began on Sept. 16 with a 2-1 win over Colorado Mines. Since then, SPU has been red-hot, outscoring GNAC opponents 27-10 and leading the conference in shots (260), points (95), goals (36), goals per game (1.89) and assists (23).

That scorching offense has been spearheaded by senior forward Jacqueline Blakeley who leads not only the team but the GNAC with 16 points on seven goals and two assists. Perhaps Blakeley’s biggest goal of the season came just this week as she scored the game-winner against Western Washington in the 19th minute on Thursday to clinch the regular-season title. In net, sophomore goalkeeper Mercedes Cullen has been superb, amassing an undefeated 9-0-4 record, along with a 0.77 goals against average, an .844 save percentage and five shutouts.

Reigning GNAC and Division II champion Western Washington will come into the GNAC Championships as the No. 2 seed after a regular season campaign that saw the team finish with a 9-2-3 conference record (11-4-4) overall. The Vikings overcame a relatively slow start to the season and several injuries to round into form during the GNAC slate with an eight-match unbeaten streak that lasted from Oct. 5 to Oct. 28. They have been one of the best defensive teams in the conference, leading the GNAC in shutouts (11) and goals against average (0.68).

Sophomore forward Morgan Manalili has been second only to Blakeley in scoring prowess, leading WWU with 15 points on six goals and three assists. Manalili was the GNAC Championships MVP a season ago and reminded her opposition of that fact by scoring all six of her goals against conference competition. Senior goalkeeper Claire Henninger has been the definition of a super senior, tying for the GNAC lead and ranking 12th in Division II with nine shutouts while compiling a 10-3-4 record to go with a 0.50 goals against average and an .857 save percentage.

After narrowly missing out in 2022, Western Oregon clinched its spot on the final day of the regular season with a 5-4-5 conference record (8-4-6 overall). The team enjoyed some of its best play early in the season, opening the year with a five-match undefeated streak. Western Oregon leads the GNAC with 1.22 assists per game and ranks second in the conference in shots (242), points (66), goals (22), goals per game (1.22) and total assists (22).

The Western Oregon offense has been led by senior forwards Chloe Smith and Reanne Jones with 12 points apiece. Both Smith and Jones finished the regular season with five goals and two assists. In net, junior Sophia Pierce has anchored the defense with seven shutouts to tie for third in the GNAC along with an 7-2-4 record, a 0.59 goals against average and a.830 save percentage.

Simon Fraser made it three straight trips to the postseason by also clinching a spot in the GNAC Championships on the final day of the conference slate as the No. 4 seed with a 5-5-4 conference record (6-5-5 overall). The Red Leafs have been one of the stingiest defense teams in the GNAC and are tied for second in the conference with just 14 goals allowed all season. They also rank third in the GNAC with a 0.88 goals against average, seven shutouts, and 1.00 assists per game.

The SFU offense has been headed by junior midfielder Kate Cartier with 12 points on five goals and two assists in 15 matches. The defensive effort has been led by sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Loewen in net. Across the season, Loewen has made a GNAC-leading 70 saves to go with a 6-5-5 record, 0.88 goals against average, .833 save percentage and seven shutouts.

The winner of the GNAC Championships will receive the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Championships.

Tickets to the 2023 GNAC Women’s Soccer Championships are available for advance purchase at GNACtickets.com. All tickets to the championships must be purchased through this ticket portal, whether purchased in advance or at the competition venue on game day. There will be no cash sales at the site. The championships will also be streamed online at GNAC.tv.